Signal apparatus for air-brakes



(N0 Mom iel.) I

'.' E. P.'BISHOP, Jr.

SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR AIR BRAKES.

"Patented Dec 25,1894.

' UNITED 1 v STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. EDWARD PAYSON BISHOP, JR, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA- SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR AIR-BRAKES.

sPEcIFIoATIoN forming part of Letters Ratent No. 531,5 4, dated December 25, 1894.

' 1 Application filedMarch 13,1894; Serial No. 503,440. (No model- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD PAYSON, BISHOP, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of J efferson and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Signal Apparatus for Air- Brakes, of which the following is a specification. I 1 I My invention relates to air-brakes, and par ticularly to signaling apparatus therefor, and

is designed especially for use in connection with such brake systems as Westinghouse; and it has for its object to provide a simple and direct means whereby the closing of a brake-pipe stop-cock causes the operation of a signal-device or indicator located in the en-' gine cab in convenient position to be seen by the engineer.

It frequently happens that the brake-pipe stop-cocks are closed through accident or by the jarring of the train, thus cutting off one or more cars from the control of the engineer and occasionally causing accidents.

I attain the above object by a connection between the signal-pipe and the brake-pipe at the ends of each car, such connect-ion being under the control of the brake-pipe stop cock, whereby when the latter is closed to cut off communication between the parts of the brake-pipe, the outlet from the signal-pipe is opened, thereby reducing the pressure in such signal-pipe, and this change of pressure is indicated by a gage located in the cab of A is a perspective view of a portion of the brakepipe, with the brake-pipe stop-cock and connections. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same taken transversely. Fig. 4: is a detail plan view of part of thebrakeand signal pipes.

Similar numerals of reference indicate correspondingparts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

The brake-pipe is shown at 1, the signalpipe at 2, the couplings between the signalpipe and the brake-pipe sections at 3, the main reservoir at 4:, and the usual signal whistle at .5.

6 represents a pressure gage, preferably arranged in the cab of the engine and connected 'with the signal-pipe between the main reservoir and the signal-valve 7, the construction of this gage forming no part of my invention and being of any preferred construction, whereby the reduction of pressure in thesignal-pipe will be indicated. p I

The signal-pipe is connected to the brakepipe between the signal-pipe stop-cock 8 and the signal-pipe connecting hose by a short branchpipe 9, which communicates with a cavity 10 in the casing 11 of the brake-pipe stop-cock 12. The plug 13of this brake-pipe stop-cock is of the ordinary construction, and its stem 14 is provided with a handle 15 having a depending lug 16 adapted to engage stops 17 on the casing to limit its movement.

The chamber 10 with which'the signal-pipe connects communicates bya vertical passage or bore 18 with a valve chamber 19, which is open at its inner endadjacent to the stopcock plug, andis closed at its outer end by a removable cap 20. This cap is provided with a tubular extension or socket 21, in which'is fitted one end of the stem 22 of a check-valve 23, and a coiled spring 24 is arranged in said socket to normally hold the check -valve pressed inward and in contact with the seat 25 surrounding the opening at the inner end.

of the valve-casing. The other end of the stem of the check-valve projects through the opening or outlet 26 in the inner end of the This reduction of pressure, howconstruction may be. resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any I of the advantages of the inventiom i Having described my invention, what I claim is.- t

1. In an air brake, the combination with a brake-pipe, a signal-pipe, and pressure-indicati-ngdevices-con nected'with the signal-pipe, of a'brake-pipe stopcock having a plug, a spring-seated check valve controlling-an -outlet'whieh is in communication with the signalpipe -and means for communicating motion from the stop-cock plug to the check valve,

whereby when the "stop-cock is closed the check valve is .unseated,. substantially as specified. I

2. In an air-brake,-tl-1e combination with a brake-pipe,- a signal-pipe. and pressure indieating devices connected with the signal-pipe,

of a brakepipe stop-cock provided in itscasing with a chamber in communication with said signal-pipe, and a check-valve closing an outlet from said chamber, and connectionshaving a stem in position to receive pressure from the stop-cock plug to'unseat the valve,

substantially as specified.

3. In an air-braka'the combination witha brake-pipe, a signal-pipe, and pressure indicati-ngdevicesconnected with the signal-pipe,

of a brake-pipe stop-cock provided in itscas ingwitha chamber in communication with the-signal-pipe, anda spring-pressed checkin the path of a cam face upon the handle movably in the outer end of said valve casing and provided with a tubular extension,- a i c check-valve stem when saidoperating handle is turnedto close the stopcock,substantially valve arranged to close an-outlet from said chamberanci provided with a stem arranged of the brake-pipe stop'cock,su-bstantiallyas specified. c

a. The herein'described brake-pipe stopcockhaving its casing provided with a trans verse chamber adapted to be connected with an air-brake signal-pipe and having its casing further provided with a superjacent valve-i casing having an outlet contiguous tothe plane-of the stopcock plug, a cap fitted recheck valve having itsstem fitted in said tubular extension of the cap and adapted to engage a seat surrounding said outlet, arr-=- actuating spring in operative relation with 50 thecheck-valveto normally hold it seated, and a cam carried by the operating handle of the brake-pipe stop-cockplugand adapted. c

to contact with the onterextremity of the as specified. c c c In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I have hereto aflixed my-sign-atu-rc in c the presenceof two witnesses.-

- c-.-EDWARD PAYSON BISHOP, JR. Witnesses: 

